System and apparatus involving optical scanning



Sept. 11, 1951 R. .1.-wxsE ET A1. 2,567,307

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS INVOLVING OPTICAL SCANNING Filed June 12, 194e 5 sheetysheet 1 Sept. 11,

Filed June SYSTEM AND APPARATUS INVOLVING OPTICAL SCANNING R. J. WISE ET AL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TORS RJ. WISE ATTORN EY Sept. 11, 1951 R. J. WISE ET AL SYSTEM AND APPARATUS INVOLVING OPTICAL SCANNING 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG Filed June 12, 1946 INVENTORS R. J. WISE ATTORNEY R. J. WISE ETAL sept. 11, 1951 SYSTEM AND APPARATUS INVOLVING OPTICAL SCANNING 5 sheets-sheet 4 Filed June 12,' 1946 AKW-lll, O 'I ATTORNEY Sept. 11, 1951 R. J. WISE: ET AL SYSTEM AND APPARATUS INVOLVING OPTICAL SCANN-ING Filed Jne l2, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. I4

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u zwmomdnm INVENToRs R J wlsa BY f G.H. RlDlNG-S ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 11, 1951 Y smo? SYSTEM AND APPARATUS INVOLVING OPTICAL SCANNING Raleigh J. Wise, Dunellen, and Garvice H. Ridings, Summit, N. J., arssignors to The Western Union Telegraph Coinpany, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 12, 1946, Serial No. 676,180

This invention relates to facsimile apparatus using optical scanning and possesses novel features applicable to transmitters as Well as receivers.

One object of our invention is to provide an improved facsimile machine for scanning a series of separate copy sheets (such as telegrams) in automatic sequence for transmission to a distant recorder. Briey stated, our automatic transmitter has a conveyor belt on which the telegrams are mounted in spaced relation, and this belt operates continuously to bring the telegramsv successively into alignment with a stationary cylinder. wrapped around the cylinder and held thereon by novel carriage mechanism which slides the supported sheet along the cylinder for internal scanning while the sheet remains attached to the moving belt. The scanning of the telegrams on the belt is done by an optical system which throws a rotary spot of light against the cylindrical inner surface of the supported sheet as it slides oif the scanning cylinder onto a guide cylinder from which it is automatically released after the scanning operation. After releasing the scanned sheet, the carriage mechanism returns to wrap the next sheet around the scanning cylinder. The transmitted telegrams are automatically numbered and timed before they are removed from the belt. The machine keeps going until the last message has been sent, whereupon the machine stops itself.

The foregoing and other features of novelty that characterize our invention will be fully set forth in a description of the accompanying drawings in which: Y

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of our facsimile transmitter;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine;

Fig.- 3 shows in plan a detail on section line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of our machine as indicated by the arrows 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 represents a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 inA exaggerated dimension for clearance;

Fig. 6 is an end view of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 shows a transverse section on line 'I-' of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an end view of Fig. 8;

Fig. 1'0 shows the optical scanning mechanism of our machine partly in diagrammatic form;

36 Claims. :,(ZCI. 178--7.1)

The sheet to be scanned is automatically l .aluminum casting with a peripheral flange.

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate the use of message holding pads on the conveyor belt;

Fig. 13 is a diagram of control circuits for the transmitter; and

Figs. 14 and 15 are detail views showing a telegraph sheet, first in open position, then Wrapped around the scanning cylinder.

The framework of our facsimile machine is supported on a base plate I0 which may be an hollow post I2 (Fig. 1) mounted at one end of the base and secured by screws or bolts I3 carriesa pulley I4 on a shaft I4', and a second pulley I5 is mounted on a shaft I5' carried by a standard I6 at the other end of the base. The pulleys I4 and I5 are arranged in horizontal alignment lengthwise of the base I0 and support a narrow conveyor belt I1, which may be a thin ribbon of sheet metal, woven wire, metallized fabric or the like. In the particular embodiment we are describing, the two pulleys and the belt should be Yof metal or otherwise have sufficient conductivity for` electrical purposes that will appear later. One of the pulleys, in this case the pulley I4, is driven by an electric motor I8 through suitable gearing I9-2l-2I (Fig. 2) housed in the hollow post or box l2.

The function of belt I'I, which moves forward continuously at the proper speed, is to feed the telegram sheets throughA the machine in an endless procession for scanning one by one. For this purpose, the belt I1 is provided with metal spring clips 22 Vfor holding the telegram sheets 23 in place on the belt. It is only necessary to slip the top edge of the sheet under the clip. To assist the operator in centralizing the sheets we provide the latter with a guide mark 24 at the center of the top edge, as shown in Fig. 14. By slipping this guide mark under the clip the operator knows that the sheet is correctly positioned on the belt. lThe clips 22 are so spaced along the belt that a narrow space 25 separates adjacent sheets. l In the illustrations of Figs. 1 and 2 the belt I1 moves from right to left so that the feed end of the machine is at the right and the discharge end at the left. At the feed end of the machine the narrow belt I1 runs between a pair of rectangular plates 26 which are spaced to provide a slot or channel 2l for the belt. The plates 26 are supe` ported in any practical way, as by a pair -of U-shaped standards 28 and 29 mounted on base I0. These plates serve as a stationary table for supporting the telegram sheets as the belt carries them forward to scanning position. The top of the belt is substantially flush with the top of 3 plates 26 (Fig. 7), so that the telegram sheets lie flat and ride smoothly over the plates.

A stationary hollow cylinder or drum 30 is 'supported lengthwise over the belt |1 to hold the sheets in scanning position. In the present instance, this cylinder is attached to a casing 3| by screws 32 which enter the end wall 33 of the cylinder, as shown in Fig. 2. The cylinder 30 thus projects axially from the casing 3|, which houses certain parts of the optical scanning mechanism, as will be explained in due course. The casing 3| is secured to the top of a standard 34 by screws 35 (Fig. 1) and the foot of the standard is fastened to the base Ill by screws 36.

The scanning carriage Two upstanding angle plates 31 and 38 are mounted on base Ill and support a pair of guide rods 39 in vertical alignment. These guide rods support a scanning carriage indicated as a whole by SK. The various parts of the scanning carriage are mounted on a U-shaped frame 40 which slides along the xed rods 39 in a denite length of travel between the spaced plates 31 and 38. The carriage is moved forward (from right to left in Fig. 2) by a screw shaft 4| which extends between the plates 31 and 38 and is permanently connected to the motor I8 by gears 42 and 43 mounted on the motor shaft and the screw shaft, respectively. The other end of screw shaft 4| carries the worm or spiral pinion i9 for operating the pulley |4 and the belt |1, as previously mentioned.

Referring to Fig. 3, the frame 4E! carries a halfnut 44 which is normally held in contact with the screw shaft 4| by an expanding coil spring 45. The half-nut 44 is disconnected from the screw shaft by a magnet 45 which is mounted on a bracket 4l secured to the frame 4|). When the magnet 45 is energized, its plunger 45 pulls the attached half-nut 44 away from the screw shaft. Upon release of the magnet, the spring 45 instantly throws the half-nut into mesh with the screw shaft. The timing of the half-nut magnet 46 will be explained in connection with the control circuits of Fig. 13. A contracting coil spring 43 is attached at one end to a lateral arm or extension 49 of the support 38 and at the other end to the slidable frame 40. Upon release of the half-nut 44 the spring 48 quickly pulls the scanning carriage back to initial position, as shown in Fig. 2. If desired a second return spring may be used at the other side of the carriage frame 40 to assure its smooth operation. Rubber buffers 49' on guide rods 39 form silent stops for the carriage.

The vertical side arms of the U frame 40 carry at the top a rod i! on which two similar arms or jaws 5| are pivoted between a pair of fixed collars 50 (Fig. 2). Each arm has a hub 5| to provide ample bearing surface, and the two arms areheld centralized on rod 56 by the fixed collars 50 on opposite sides of the hubs. As seen in Fig. 7, the pivot rod 50 is centrally below the scanning cylinder 3U and the arms 5| extend in opposite directions curving upwardly at their free ends or tips which carry a flexible band or web 52. This band may consist of any suitable textile material, soft thin leather, a fabric of ne wire, or the like, and is large enough to receive a telegram sheet.

A practical way of mounting the band 52 on the arms 5`| is shown in the enlarged views of Figs. 8 and 9. Each arm has at its tip a short sleeve or bushing 5? in which a rod 54 is xed. at

the center and this rod carries a pair of rollers 55 on opposite sides of the bushing. The ends of band 52 are turned down over the rollers 55 of each arm and fastened in place by suitable means 56 which may be a line of eyelets, rivets, stitching, or the like. The rollers 55 are of the same diameter as the bushing 53 so that the band is smooth and unbroken along the fastened end. A small central portion of each end of band 52 is cut away, as indicated at 51 in Fig. 8, to avoid the arms 5|.

The function of the flexible band 52 is to wrap a telegram around the stationary cylinder 33 and move it along for scanning. For this purpose the pivoted arms 5| are connected to an automatic operating device in any practical way. In Fig. 1, by way of example, we show a solenoid 58 mounted on the bottom piece of the U frame 4B and the plunger 59 of the solenoid is connected to a pair of links 55 by a pin Si. These links are connected at their upper ends to the arms 5| by pins 62 which are on oppoiste sides of the supporting rod 55. An expanding coil spring 53 sur rounds the plunger 59 and normally tends to swing the arms upward into closed position, as indicated by the dotted lines 5|. This happens only when the solenoid 5B is deenergized. Upon being energized the solenoid pulls down its plunger and the arms 5 are spread apart to open the band 52 which is thereby held taut in flat horizontal position as shown in Fig. 7. It will thus be seen that the arms 5| operate like a pair of jaws which alternately close and open to support and release a message sheet.

The U-shaped standard 28 which straddles' the base plate lil carries a pair of horizontal brackets 54 for supporting a pair of hinged plates 55 of sheet metal at opposite sides of the flexible band 52. As the hinged mountings of the two plates are alike, a description of one will apply to both. Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, each bracket 64 is secured at one end to the underside ofthe cross bar 23 of standard 28 by vertical screws S5 which may also enter the adjacent end of plate 2S. The bracket 64 has a pair of'upstanding lugs 51 and 68 which carry a fixed rod 69 for supporting a rotatable sleeve 10. The plate 55 curves downward at the edge to provide a tubular hinge portion 55 into which the sleeve 15 is fitted to form a pivot bearing for the plate. It makes no diiference whether the sleeve 1li remains stationary or turns with the plate. A section of the sleeve 15 is cut away to provide an annular recess 1| which contains a coil spring 12. One end 13 of the spring bears on the plate 65 and the other end 15 is connected to a lateral extension 14 of bracket 54. The tendency of the coil spring 12 is to keep the plate G5 in horizontal position against the top of extension 14, which acts as a stop. It is preferable to have a stop 14 for each side of the plate, as shown in Fig. 4.

When the arms or jaws 5I are held open by the' energized magnet 58, the iiexible band 52 is stretched flat and passes under the belt |'1 and under the hinged plates 65, as shown in Fig. 1. The open band 52 is, therefore, in a position to receive the telegram sheets 23v as the slowly moving belt keeps feeding them forward. The sheets pass smoothly from the stationary plates 25 onto the hinged plates 55 which may beslightly lower than the plates 25. When the sheet next to be scanned is in alignment with the stationary cylinder 3i), as shown at 23a in Fig. 2, the Isheet lies fully over the open jaws 5| with the side porf l'iOns of the sheet lying on the plates 65. This is clear from Fig. 7. When the solenoid 58 is ldeenergized, the coil spring 83 instantly closes the jaws 5| and the band 52 wraps the enclosed .sheet firmly around the cylinder 30 for scanning. The closing movement of the jaws 5| automati- -cally swings the hinged plates 65 upward out of the way, as indicated at 65'. As soon as the plates 65 are disengaged by the closing jaws, they snap back to normal position for receiving the -next telegram sheet.

Thefclosed band 52 holds the wrapped telegram sheet in contact with the cylinder 38 all around so that the sheet is supported as a hollow tube for inside scanning. This tubular or cylindrical shape of the sheet 23 on the cylinder 30 is clear from Fig. 12.l To allow the'passage of belt |1 close under the cylinder 30, the latter is provided with a longitudinal slot 15 at the bottom for clearing the clips 22. The lower run `of belt |1 passes through openings 1B in the U down.

In some cases we may attach felt or rubber pads 11 to the belt I1 for receiving the telegram sheets 23, as shown in Figs. 1l and 12. These pads, which are mounted on the belt at regular intervals in any practical way, as by rivets or eyelets 18, facilitate the conveying of the telegram forms and are wrapped over the message when the jaws 5| are closed around the cylinder 30. The clips 22 are used with the pads for holding -the sheets thereon. When the belt I1 is provided with the pads 11, the machine is so designed as to" allow passage of the pads through the machine. Let it be understood that we use the term belt 'in the broadest practical sense, including not only a continuous flexible band but any kind 'of conveying device that operates like a belt to The optical scanning mechanism y We have already mentioned that the conveyor belt i1 is driven continuously by the motor I8. Consequently, when the telegram sheet 23ar is wrapped .around the cylinder 30, the sheet keeps on moving since it is fastened to the belt I1. The

v moment a sheet reaches scanning position as shown in Fig. 2, not only are the jaws 5| closed to.wrap the sheet around the cylinder 30 but a the scanning carriage SK which is then in start- Fing. position is coupled to the screw shaft 5| through therelease of the half-nut magnet 46. As a result the scanning carriage (including the closed jaws 5|) is moved slowly forward'in unison with the belt I1, whereby the sheet wrapped Varound the stationary cylinder 30 is moved along at scanning speed While the sheet is still clipped to the belt. I'he cylinder 30 is preferably formed with axial grooves 19 to reduce the 'contact friction of the sliding sheet.

f As thesheet held by the closed band 52 slides oil the cylinder 30, it passes over a stationary guide cylinder arranged in axial alignment with thescanning cylinder. may be supported in any practical way. In the present machine one end of cylinder 88 is mounted on an angle bracket 8| which is secured to the upper end of a standard 82 by screws 83. The standard 82 is xed on the base plate I0 The guide cylinder 80 byv screws 84 or otherwise. The guide cylinder 80 is slightly smaller than the cylinder 30 and has a bevelled end so that the sheets slide easily from one cylinder onto the other while being held in cylindrical form by the closed jaws5l. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 10, the twol cylinders 30 and 80 are separated at their adjacent ends by a narrow space 85 in which a rotary spot of light indicated at 86 operates to scan the inner surface of the message sheet as it passes from cylinder 30 over to the guide cylinder 80. This rotary scanning point is produced by novel mechanism which we shall now describe.

Referring to Fig. 2, the casing 3| contains an electric motor 81 which has an extended shaft 88 journaled at its outer end in the wall 89 of the casing. The motor shaft 88 carries a pinion 90 geared to an idler 9| which may be mounted on the casing wall 89. The idler 9| is in mesh with a gear 92 fixed on the inner end of a rotary tubular shaft 93 which extends axially through the stationary cylinder 30. The shaft 93 is journaled in a bushing 94 formed in the end wall 33 of cylinder 30 and extending through the wall 89 into the casing, The gear 92has a hub 95 which cooperates with a collar 98 to hold the rotary shaft 93 against axial displacement. The motor 81 is of the synchronous type and rotates the hollow shaft 93 at a constant high speed.

An exciter lamp 91 mounted in the lightproof casing 3| projects a beam of light through a. lens tube 98 and an apertured plate 99 into the open inner end of shaft 93. This end of the shaft encloses a lens assembly |00 (seeFig. 10) for directing the exciter beam lengthwise through the shaft. An interrupter or chopper disk IDI fixed on the motor shaft 88 has its peripheral teeth in the path of the beam between the apertured plate 99 and the lens assembly |00 to interrupt the light at a'predetermined frequency. As will be understood without further explanation, this light frequency determines the frequency of the carrier wave on which the scanning signals are transmitted to the recorder.

In Fig. 2 the tubular shaft 93 carries a right angled prism 02 arranged in transverse alignment with the scanning space 85 between the two cylinders 30 and 80. The prism |02 is mounted on a small block |03 fitted inside the shaft 93 which has an opening |04 over thev4 prism. As a result of this construction the light beam entering the hollow shaft 93 from the exciter lamp 91 isreilected radially outward by the prism |02 to form the scanning spot 86 on the inner surface of the cylindrical message sheet. Thescanning beam is reilectedfromthe sheet to a photocell |05 which in this instance is arranged so close to the scanningspot 86 that it receives sufcient light from the scanned surface without the need of an interposed lens. The photocell |05 may be mounted on shaft 9i!v in any practical way as by a band or collar |06. The electrodes of the photocell are connected to a pair of insulated collector rings |01 on shaft 93.

In Fig. 10 the photocell |05 is arranged inside the guide cylinder 80 at such a distance from the -scanning spot 88 that an interposed lens |08 and reflector |09 are necessary to direct the signal beam to the photocell. The lens |08 is supported in a tube ||0 which is fixed, at the proper angle on the shaft 93 as by clamping or soldering. The reflector |09, which may be a small mirror or piece of polished glass, is carried by a block ||2 fixed in the hollow shaft '93. For convenience, the prism |02 (which is the same here "as inFig. '2) mayalso. be mounted .on blockA |12.

' The. scanning operation of the machine will b'e cl'ea-r from Figs. 2 and 10; Let us assume that-'the carriage SK is moving forward from its initial position with 'a message sheet wrapped around the cylinder 30 by the closed jaws 5|. Theshaft 93- is rotating rapidly and the spot of light Srevolves continuously in a circular path normal to the cylinder axis. As the sheet slides .01T the cylinder 30 across the spaceV 85 (see Fig. 10), the inner cylindrical surface of the sheet encounters the -light point 8B which scans'the revolving message in a fine spiralV track. The linear speed of the traveling carriage SK and thev rotary speed of the scanning point 86 are usually so calculated as to produce about scanning lines -to the inch. This gives a clear facsimile'in the recorder. vEach message sheet has a black phasing mark ||6 for starting the recorder in phase with the transmitter, as will be understood 'by those familiar with prior facsimile patents of the present applicants.

yThe timing,y numberingand discharge voffic-crasd messages We have seen how a message is scanned while sliding from cylinder 30 to cylinder 80. -When the scanning carriage SK reaches the end of its forward travel, as indicated by the dotted outline SK in Fig.2, the scanned message -(still clipped to. the. belt) is fully mounted on the guide cylinder 80. At that moment the jaw magnet B` and the half-nut magnet 46 are automatically-'energized to open-the jaws 5| .and release the carriage SK for return to initial position by the spring 48. The opening of jaws 5| releases thescanned sheet from cylinder 80 so that it is now flat again and. free to be carried on by the moving belt I1. Meanwhile, with the carriage SK back in starting position, the jaws 5I are closed again to clamp the next sheet over the scanning cylinder 30.

Referring to Fig. 2, let us follow theA final progress of the scanned sheet 23h -as itmoves from under the guide cylinder 80. As .the sheet passes over the pulley I4, the leading edge encounters a stripper ||1 which may consist of a pair of curvedprongs or ngers arranged onopposite sides of. theI pulley. It is convenient to mount the stripper on a standard IIB.- secured to the base |0 and extending between the gear box I2 and the pulley I4. also form a bearing for the motor driven pulley shaft I4 which projects from the gear box I2.

. The spaced vprongs .I I'I may be stamped from sheet metal as a forked unit which extends laterally from the support |.|8 so that the vtips ofthe prongs overlap the sides of the -pulley I4. Consequently, when the forward edge of the scanned sheet (nowin at condition) strikesthe prongs I I IWhichstraddle the clip 22, the sheet is stopped and thereby stripped from its clip. In Fig. 2 the dotted lines 23 indicate the position of the sheet just before being stripped, and thestripped sheet is shown at 23e ready to drop into a chute or receptacle |.I9 `for discharge to a convenient point.

It is desirable in a machine of this kind to number the transmitted messages consecutively and to stamp each with the time of transmission. For this purpose we have provided our machine with a numbering stamp |20 and -a time stamp I2| which are mounted on the bracket 8|. These Ystamping devices are of standard make and well known construction sothat their details need not be shown or described here. It is enough to say that the numbering stamp |20 has a plunger |20' and the time stamp |.2I has a plunger I2 pro- -The standard ||8 may -13 where the switches appear in diagrammatic jec'ting at the top. Whenv these plungers'are pushed down, the two stamps perform their 'spective functions.

In Fig. 2 the projecting part |22 may be taken to represent the number wheels of stamp |20 and the time wheels of stamp I2 I. These wheels are arranged over the message sheet in its nal position on the belt I1 so as to print the time and number transversely of the sheet outside the message area. The plungers |20" and |2I are operated simultaneously by a solenoid |23 mounted on the 'bracket 8| by means of a U-shaped frame |24 which is bolted to the bracket. The movable core |25 of solenoid |23 carries a cross bar |26 which rests on top of the stamp plungers |20 and I2'I. When the solenoid |23 is energized, its core |25f'i's pulle'ddown and operates the Astamps |20 and I2 I. This stamping takes place just before the sheet reaches the stripper II'I. When the solenoid is deenergized, a coil spring |21 pulls back th'e core |25 and allows the stamp plungers to rise. The timed operation of solenoid |23 will be explained in connection with Fig. 13.

Since the stamping wheels |22 bear down on the message sheet with considerable pressure, it

is necessary to support the sheet firmly along,y

the line of stamping. We do this by providing a heavy bed plate I 28 which extends transversely under the belt |1 and the telegram sheet 23e in line with the printing Wheels |22. The bed plate |28 is secured to the top of an upstanding bracket |29 (Fig. 2) which is mounted on the base .plate I0. We also make use of the bed plate |28 to support two pairs of fingers |30 and |3| extend.- ing in opposite directions. The fingers |30 extend rearward (to the right as viewed in- Figs. 1 and 2) to support the sides of sheet 23h after its release by the jaws 5| and to guide the sheet over the bed plate |28. Ther other two fingers I3I curve forward in line with the periphery of pulley I4 to hold up the sides of the sheet as it slides off the pulley into the chute I9.

Control switches in Fig. 2

In describing the Vconstruction and operation of the Various mechanisms in the machine of Fig. 2, we omitted all reference to certain switches automatically operated by the belt I1 andthe scanning carriage SK because an explanation oi.' the function of those switches belongs to the circuit diagram of Fig. 13. However, before taking up Fig. 13, we shall describe the mounting and arrangement of those switches so that their operation Will be the more readily understood in Fig.

form only.

A pair of switch boxes |32 and |33 are mounted on top of the angle plates 31 and 38, respectively, so as to be controlled by the scanning carriage SK. For that purpose the carriage is provided with insulated buttons or lugs |34 and |35 in front and back. When the carriage reaches the end of its forward movement, the button |34 operates the switch assembly in box |32. In the initial position of the carriage the rear button |35 operates the switch in box |33. These switch operations enter into the automatic control of the machine, as will presently become clear from Fig. 13.

We utilize the metal clips 22 of the belt I1 to operate a switch |36 mounted on the bracket 8| and arranged inside the guide cylinder 80. This switch comprises a pair of insulated contacts I 31 and |38 which are normally open and avspring arm |39 which carries a weight |40 near its free 9 end. The spring arm |39 extends into the path ofithe moving clips 22 and normally hangs clear ofthe adjacent contact |31. When a clip encounters the arm |39, it moves the same forward (tothe left in Fig. 2) and therefore places it under tension. The moment that the displaced armA |39 is free of the slowly moving clip, it fliesv back rand throws. the contact |31 against the contact whichissecured to the inner cylinder wall. The

arm |4| preferably slants forward in the direction of the moving belt and extends through the bottom slot of cylinder 39. The projecting end of arm |4I engages the telegram sheets on belt I1 and the belt itself when there is no sheet under the arm. The contacting end of the arm |4| may be rounded so as to ride easily and lightly over the engaged surface. It will be remembered that the belt I1 is of conducting material. Therefore, when the contact arm I4| touches the beltl it l'becomes grounded to the machine, but when the arm rides over a paper message sheet yon the belt it remains in an vinsulated condition. should be noted (Fig. 7 that the switch arm 4| is. varranged lto one side of the metal clipsr22 and nel/,8.11 touhs'hemf y I* ocontact vfingers |43 and |44 (see Fig. 2) projectbelow the numbering and timing mechanism |20| 2| and may conveniently be mounted on lbracket 8|. The contact |43 is in line with the metal clips 2v2 so as to touch them and therebybecome grounded. The other contact |44 is arranged `to one side of the clips and engages either a message sheet or the belt |1 whereby this contact is either insulated or grounded. When a `clip 22 touches the contact |43, the solenoid l 23 operates the stamps |20| 2 When therefisno sheet underxthe stamps, the contact |44 prevents their operation, as will presently be exi'slained. Y .l .l

1. Control circuits of transmitter (Fig. 13)

In this circuit diagram any ycontact or terminal havinga plus sign isassumed to be connected to time. When the button is released, the spring arms automatically return to normal position. It should be understood that the push button |45 represents a suitable form of finger piece for operating any practical form of switch mechanism indicated by the pairs of contacts |46 to |53. For

short we shall hereafter identifyeach of these four switches by one of lits contacts only.

A relay has one side connected to a source of positive potential to which a linev |56 is also |55 are grounded, the contact arm |63 is connected to the positive side of a source of direct current, and the contact arm |65 is connected to the bus bar A of an alternating current source. When the starting button |45 is pushed in, the circuit ofv relay |55 is closed through switch |48 and the relay locks through itsv contact |62,

so that it remains energized when' the switch button |45 is released.

The contact |64 of relay |55 is connected 'to a line'l61 which goes to one side of the'motor |8` andthe exciter lamp 91; The other side of motorv I9 is connected at |68 to a line |69, one end of which is grounded through a resistor |10.' jWhen, therefore, the make contact |64 is'closed by the energized relay, the scanning motor I8 and the` exciter lamp 91'are energized. The contact |66 of relay |55`is connectedV by a wire |1| to one side of the synchronous motor 81, the other side of which goes to a bus bar B of an alternating current source of potential, so that the closing of contact |66 energizes this motor. It will thus be clear that the energizing of relay |55 by the starting button |45 automatically sets the scanning mechanism in operation preliminary `to the actual scanningl of a sheet.

A relay |12 vhas its winding connected t0 wires |13 and |14. The wire |13 connects with the positive side-of a direct current source and the wire |14 goes to the grounded contact |15 of a relay 116. The relay |12 has a break contact |11-|18 and three makev contacts |19-|8|l,

return side of the power circuit. The letters A v andB indicate a source .of alternating current for the' synchronous motor 81 which operates the hollow shaft 93 and the chopper disk ||l|. If the samesource of direct current potential is used for therelays and magnets as for the motor I8, a

to Wire |56, contacts |19, |8| and grounded, contact |86 is connected to wire |14, contact |82 is connected to wire |69, and contact |83 is connected to a wire |85 which goes to a 'spring arm |86 of the switch |33. The other contact |81 of this switch is grounded. The spring arm" |86 is held open'by the scanning'carriage SK in its initial position and automatically closes when the carriage starts forward. The l contact |53 of the starting switch. The relay.

|88 has two break contacts |9|-'|92 and |93-|94, and a make contact |95 closed by Athe contactv arm |93. The contact arm |9| is connected by a wire |96 to the movable swi'tchcontact; |31. The contact |92 is connected to wire 11 |13, and the movable arm |93 is connected to the message controlled contact |4| by a wire |91. The contact |94 is connected to contact |18 of relay |12 by a wire |98, and the contact |95 is connected by a wire |99 to the wire |90.

A relay 200 controls the half-nut magnet 46 and the jaw operating magnet 58. One side of this relay is connected to a source of positive potential and the other side is connected to a wirev 202. The relay 200 operates two make contacts 203-204A and 205-206. r'I'he contact 203 is connected to wire 202 and the movable contact 204 is connected by a Wire 201 to the wire |85. The contact 205 is connected to a wire 208 and the movable contact 206 is grounded. The wire 200 connects one side of the magnets 46 and 58 in parallel.

A relay 209 is connected at one side to a source of positive potential and a wire 2 connects the other s ide of the relay to the switch contact |45. The relay 209 operates two make contacts 2 |2-2 |3 and 2 |4 -2|5. Contact 2 |2 is connected to'wire 2 and the movable contact 2l3 is connected to a wire ZIE. Contact 2|4 is connected to the contact |60 of relay |55 by a wire 2|1 and the movable contact 2|5 is connected to a wire 2|0.

A relay 220 is connected at one side to a source of positive potential and the other side of the relay goes to wire 2|8. The relay 220 operates tWo make contacts 222-223 and 224-225 and a break contact 226-221. The movable contacts 222 and 224 are grounded. Contact 223 is connected to a Wire 228 which goes from the switch contact |50 to conductor |14. Contact 225 is connected by a wire 229 to the wire |58 which leadsY from'the negative side of relay |55. The movable contact 226 is connected to wire 2 I6 and the companion contact 221 is grounded.

The switch assembly |32 'which is operated by 232 'are springj'arms adapted to be moved to closedA position when the pin |34 on the advancing carriage strikes the front arm 230. This arm carries an insulated pin or button 234 which is normally spaced( frm therear arm. 232. SQ that the switch,

switches by the single numerals Y230 and Y2,32;A

respectively.

The winding of solenoid |23, which operates* the numbering stamp` |28 and the time stampi l2 I,4 isjconne'cted at one side to a source of positive potential and at the other side to the spring ccntact |43, which is arranged in the path of the 'i metal clips 22 on belt I1.` Consequently, whenf ever a clip touches the contact finger |43, the

solenoid |23 is energized;y Ashunt wire 236 connects the positive 'side of solenoid |23 toy the spring contact |44 which is arranged out of the path of the clips 22 and is held by the message sheets out of contact with the grounded frame of' the'machine. Therefore, when there i's no sheet under the contact |44, the solenoid |23 is short-circuited and cannot operate even when the contact |43 engages a clip 22. This prevents operation of' the stamping device |20-|2| when there fis no vmessage sheet in stamping position.

.make contact |80.

Operation of Ythe machine We are now prepared to follow the various steps that occur in the transmitter for the automatic scanning of the messages on belt |1. This belt may be as long as needed to hold at one time the required number of messages. Let us suppose that when the machine is started by the operation of push button |45 there is no message sheet in scanning position. In fact we shall assume that the rst message placed on the belt by the attendant is several clips away from the scanning cylinder 30. This means that a certain length of empty belt has to be moved forward before the first lmessage is in scanning position and it is desirable to cover this distance in faster than scanning time. We accomplish this result automatically in the following way.

When the button |45 is pushed in to startth machine, the relay |55 is instantly energized through the closed switch |48 and locks through its make contact |02, so that the button can be released right away. At the Same time the relay |12 is energized through wire |14 and the closed switch |5 the relay locking thro-ugh its grounded With both of the relays |55 and |12 energized, the circuit of the direct current motor I8 which operates the belt |1 is closed through make contact |64 of relay |55, Iwire |61. through the motor windings to point |68, then through wire |69 and the closed contact |82 of relay |12. This cuts the resistor |10 out of the motor circuit and causes the motor I8 to operate at high speed, so that the belt |1 moves rapidly forward to bring the iirst message sheet into scanning position. The closing ofy relay contact |66 connects the high speed synchronous motor 81 to the alternating Vcurrent source A-B. The closing of relay contact |64 also lights `the exciter lamp 91.

The closing of switch |53 energizes the relay which opens its break Contact |92 to prevent short-circuiting of the relay |12 when a passingl clip 22 causes the momentary closing of switch |36 by the weighted arm |39, 'as previouslyeX- plained. The relay |88 locks through its make;

because the energized relay |55 holds the break contact |60 open. A t this time the energizingl of relay 2,019 performs no other service than to. close its make contact 2|4 for future use.

Since the relay 200 is, not yet energized, its make contact 205 is. open so that the half-nut magnet 4S and the jaw operating magnet 58 remain inert. Therefore, the scanning carriage SK is connected to the screw shaft 4| and the empty arms or jaws 5| are wrapped around the stationary cylinder 30. The closing of switch |33 A as the carriage leaves its initiall position has no We now have the belt'. l1 and the empty scanning carriage SK moving forward in unison at fast speed. The scanning`vv mechanism is energized to the extent that the g eiect at this moment.

The closing of make contact 2|4 o1 relay 209 does not close the circuit of relay 220 asomar exciter lamp 91 is on and the synchronous motor 81 drives the chopper disk |0| `together with the hollow shaft 93 which rotates the spot of scanning light 86. In other words, the machine is now, fully conditioned for the rst .scanning operation. l t

; Bear in mind that we are now describing the irst forward movementof the empty scanning carriage SK after startingof the machine. When the carriage completes its forward travel, it closes thenswitch 232 and thereby energizes the relay 200.` The Acompanion switch 230 isr also closed but it performs no useful function at this time. The energized relay 208 locks through its contact 233 and through the closed contact |84 of energized relayy |12. There is also a shunt path that goes from point 201 to the closed switch` |33 but at the moment this` pathis Vmerely an additional meansl for locking .the relay 200. The energizing ofthigrelay closes the `Circuit of magnets 46 and 58 through the closed contact -205 so that the Scanninggcarri-age SK is disconnected from the screwshaft 4| and the jaws 5| are opened. The released carriage lis quickly restored to initial positionby the spring 48.

. 'Ihe opening of the two switches 232 and |33 by the return of carriage SK toA initial Yposition does nothrelease the relay 200 becauseY it remains locked as above described. Therefore, after moving'forwardnonce, the empty scanning carriage net only Adisconnects itself from the screw shaft 4|Nbutrremains idle' with the arms 5| open as long vas themoving belt |1 is empty of messages as it` passes under the cylinder 30. In other words, the carriage is waiting with open arms for thelrstrmessage .to be brought into` scanning position.` y l When the rstmessage sheet lon belt |1 comes under the cylinder 30, as represented by the sheet 23a in Fig. 13, the ground connection of contact |4| is broken by the sheet of insulating paper on which .the contact now rests. The relay |88`is thereby deenergized and closes its ,contact |92. At vthe instant when the advancingsheet 23a reaches scanning position and insulates the contact "|4|, .the preceding clip 22h momentarily closes the switch |36 as previously explained, whereby the relay |12 is short-circuited and deenergized. VThese short-circuiting connections can be 'traced through wire |13, closed contact |92,

wire |86 and the closed switch |36. It may be.

notd'here that the closing of relay contacts |18 and |94 by the deenergizing of relays |12 and |88 does not affect the energized relay |55. .The short-circuiting of this relay through wires |56 and |91 is prevented by the now insulated contact |4|. y

The release of relay |12 opens the contactI |82 so that the circuit of motorv I8 is now closed through the resistor |10. The motor slows down the drive of belt |1A and the screw shaft 4| to, predetermined scanning speed. The opening of relay 'contact |84 deenergizes the relay 200 which opens its contact 205 to release the half-nut magnet 46 and/the jaw closing magnet 58. So

it is clear that the moment when a sheet 23av reaches its scanning position,the carriage SK is automaticallyconnected to the rotating screw shaft 4| andthe arms 5| are closed to mount the sheet 23a on cylinder 30. The scanning of the sheet n oW proceeds as heretofore described. O f course, if there is a sheet under the scanning cylinder 30 when the starting button |45 is pushed, the scanning of thesheet begins immedist tely.-wii'lh the motor I8r operating at low speed.

Let us inow .Suppose that the sheet Vhas .been Seemed aDdmQYGd tol-the positionne onthe guide cylinderlll.` The carriage SK has reached the end of its forward travel and has successively closed the two switches 230 and 232. The closing 0f Switch 230. enersizes4 the ,relay |12 through wire |14, whereupon the relayvlocks through `its make contact |80. kThe location of contact |4| is such that it touches themetalV belt |1 in the space Abetwl`een adjacent sheets after the nclosing` of switch 230. 'IhereforeLvthis momentary grounding of contact |4| will notshort-circuit the relay |55 because contact |18 of the energized relay |12 is nowopen. Another way to Vprevent short-circuiting ofmrelay |55 when the contact |4| passes Yfrom one sheet to the next would be to make this contact wide enough to span the gap between the sheets and thereby keep thecontact insulated. However, we prefer the arrangement described because it -is independent of the width of the gap between the sheets. When the relay |12 is energized, the circuit of motor I8 is closed through wire |69 and contact |82, whereby the resistor |10 is short-circuited and the motor operates at high speed to bring the next sheet quickly into scanning position.

- After the contact |4| grounding space 25, the clip 22h momentarily closes the switch |36 and thereby short-circuits the relay |12 through wire |13, closed contact |92 of the dead relay |88, and the wire |96. The scanning carriage SK is now at the end of its forward travel and has closed the switch 232. The closing of this switch energizes the relay 200 through wire 202, the relay locking through its make contact 203 and the closedcontact |84 of the energized relay |12. At this moment the locking circuit of relay 200 may also go through the closed switch |33. When the make contact 205 of relay 20|) closes, the magnets 46 and 58 are energized, resulting in the release of carriage SK and the opening of arms 5|. The empty carriage is now pulled back suddenly to initial position under the scanning cylinder 30.

' When the carriage SKVv starts moving back,the end switches 230 and 232 spring open, performing no function at this time, but the switch |33 remains closed until the carriage reaches its initial position. The relayv 200 remains energized as long as the switch |33 is closed. When the carriage SK is back in its initial position, the switch |33 is opened and the relay 208 is released tol deenergizethe magnets 46 and 58. Consequently the moment that the carriage SK is ready for the next sheet, the arms 5| are closed to wrap the sheet around the cylinder 30 and the half-nut 44 connects the carriage to the rotating screw shaft 4|. The motor I8, it will be recalled, is now running at low speed and the new sheet undergoes the scanning operation Apreviously described.

. We shall now follow the progress of the scanned sheet 23hI after it has been released from the jaws 5| and is lying open on the movingv belt I1. When the grounded clip 22h encounters the contact |43, the solenoid `|23 is energized and operates .the numbering stamp |20 and the time stamp |2.|, as heretofore described. In the de- Asign of the machine as illustrated it was convenient to locate the stamping mechanismv |20|2| in such position that the stamping takes place on the head portion of the message sheet. For example, in Fig. 14 the rectangles 231 and 238 on the heading 239 of the telegram form represent respectively the numbering and timingl has passed over the asse-soc indicia printed by the stamps and |2|'. However, the stamping can be applied to the sheet at the bottom or in, any other available space thereon.

' It is not essential that the stamping of the sheets shall be done after the scanning, for this operation can as well take place before scanning by mounting the stamps to the right of cylinder (as Viewed in Fig. 2). Then, again, the two stamp devices |29 and |2| can be so arranged that one stamp will operate before scanning and the other stamp after scanning. Further, while in this case we make use of the clips 22 to eiect the automatic operation of the stamps, we want it understood that in the broader aspect of our invention the stamps may be controlled in any other practical way. For example, a photocell could be used for that purpose.

After a sheet has been stamped, it is released from its clip by the stripper ||1 and drops into the chute or receptacle ||9. In Fig. 13 the final position of the stamped and released sheet is shown vat 23e Where it is ready to drop off the moving belt. In this Way message after message is automatically scanned, stamped and removed from the machine. All that the attendant has to do is to attach new sheets to the belt as it keeps on moving forward. It should be noted that if no `sheet is present under the stamping mechanism |20 and |2I, the contact |44 is grounded and the solenoid |23 is short-circuited to prevent the operation of the stamps.

In the foregoing description of the operation of our transmitter We assumed that the sheets carried each a long message that required scanning of the sheet to the end. This, of course, makes it necessary to move a sheet from position 23a to position 23h at low scanning speed. Now, in the case of a short message it would be a waste of time to scan the entire sheet. To avoid this objection we apply an end-of-message stamp to thev sheet right after the message, as shown vat 240 in Fig. 1.

vThe end-of-message stamp 240 consists of a line of black dots which produce a special signal when scanned and thereby cause the tuned relay |16 to be energized. This relay responds only to the end-of-message signal and closes its Contact |15 to energize the relay |12 whereby the motor |8 speeds up and drives the scanning carriage faster the rest of the way. In other words, the endofmessage switch |15 does the same thing that the carriage control switch 230 accomplishes, the two switches being connected to conductor |14 in shunt to each other. one of those switches energizes the relay |12 to speed up the motor I8.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the relation of the message sheets to the scanning cylinder 30 is such that the entire sheet is wrapped around the cylinder for scanning. That is the proper arrangement When the recording sheets at the receiver are mere blanks without a heading. For then the izsual printed heading on the transmitted sheet should be facsimiled to the recorder. However, where the recorded blanks are provided with a printed heading and are duplicates of the message blanks in the transmitter., there is no need to scan the heading of the telegram forms. In that casa-as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the telegrams are so arranged on belt l|1 that when a sheet is Wrapped around the cylinder 30 the heading 239 overlaps the guide cylinder 80 and the scanning begins at the phasing mark |15. This overlap- The closing of either When the Last message has been transmitted y It is evident from what has been said that'the transmitter once started continues to operate ayu.-

time in the tomatically as long as there are messages on the belt |1. `Suppose now that the last message has been transmitted and is in the position 23h under the guide cylinder 80. The scanning carriage SK has been returned to starting position, but now there is no sheet under cylinder 30 and the con-l tact |4| is grounded.

When the passing clip 22b of the last sheet 23h closes the switch |36 for a moment, the relay |12l is deenergized by being short-circuited throughY wire |13, closed contact |52 of the dead relay |188, Wire |96 and switch |36. The released Contact |18 of relay |12 short-circuits the relay |55 through wire |56, contact |18, wire |98, contact |94 of relay |88, wire |91 and the grounded con tact I4 With relay |55 deenergized, the releasedl contact |64 opens the circuit of motor I8, but it is necessary to continue the operation of the belt |1 until the last sheet 23o has been stamped and stripped from the belt. We accomplish this by the following means.

Remember that the relay 209 was energized at" the sta-rt and has remained so all this time doing no more than holding its make contact 2 I4 closed'.A Onthe other hand, the relay 220 has remained' inoperative because the contact |60 of the en-` ergized relay |55 has been open since the starting of the machine. Upon release of the relayY |55 as just described, its contact U50 is closed and" the relay 220 is energized, closing its contacts 223` and 225, at the same time opening its contact 221. The closing of contact 225 reenergizes the relay |55 through the shunt wire 229, and the closing of contact 223 reenergizes the relay |12 through wires |14 and 228. The opening of contact 221 breaks the circuit of relay 209, which opens its' contact 2|4 to deenergize the relay 220. The reenergization of relays |55 vand |12 by the' momentary energizing of relay 220 causes the motor I8 to operate at increased speed so that the belt |1 is now running fast to move the last' sheet from position 23h into position for stamp-l ing and stripping. It is to be assumed tharwhen; the sheet is in its final or falling off position, the empty clip 22a has lmoved to position 22h andl has just closed the grounded switch |36. Thisy short-circuits the relay |12 and in turn the relay' |55 is short-circuited through the grounded cone' tact |4|. Consequently, upon removal of the last,1

sheet from belt I1 the machine automaticaly stops' With all circuits opened. If the relay contact |51 in line |756 is omitted, this line will continue to draw batteryl current after the machine stops,1 but nothing happens from that because all the' relays are deenergized To start the 'machinevagain, it is only necessary to press the button |45 and the operating sequences previously cle-: scribed are automatically repeated.

Summary of operation open. You press the button |45 for" a moment and let go. Instantly the following operations take place automatically:

1. The main or scanning relay |55 is energized through switch |48 and locks through its contact |62.-

2. The fast relay |12 is energized through switch and locks through its contact |80.

3. The relay |88 is energized through switch |53 and locks through its contact |95 and the grounded contact |4|.

4. The auxiliary relay 209 is energized through switch |46 for future use.

5. The motor I8 and exciter lamp 91 are energized through contact |64 of relay |55. The motor circuit is closed through contact |8| of relay |12, the resistor |10 being cut out. so that the motor operates at high speed.

6. The relay 200 is not energized when the machine is started, so that the half-nut magnet 46 and the jaw magnet 58 remain idle. The carriage SK is, therefore, connected to the screw shaft 4| and the empty jaws 5| are closed over the scanning cylinder 30. f

We now have the energized motor |8 driving the belt |1 and the carriage SK at fast speed, since no scanning is yet being done.

When the carriage reaches the end of its first forward movement, the two switches 230 and 232 are closed. The relay 200 is now energized and closes the circuit of magnets 46 and 58, whereby the scanning carriage SK is released for return to initial position with its arms open. The relay 200 remains energized through contact |84 of relay |12, even after the switch |33 is opened by the returned carriage.

Therefore, after making one round-trip the scanning carriage SK remains stationary under the cylinder 30 with the arms open as long as there are empty clips on the moving belt.

When the first message sheet is brought scanning position by the fast moving belt, the ground of contact |4| is broken with the following results: y

1. Relay |88 is released by the message sheet breaking the ground of contact |4 (Incidentally, this relay remains deenergized until the starting switch is again operated.)

2. Relay |12 is released by short-circuiting through the momentary closing of switch |35 by the passing clip. Y

3. Relay 200 is released by the opening of contact |84 of relay |12, thereby releasing the magnets 46 and 58, so that the carriage SK is connected to the screw shaft 4| and the arms 5| are closed to wrap the message sheet around the l cylinder 30.

4. Relay |55 remains energized and the motor circuit is now closed through the resistor |10, so that the belt |1 and carriage SK move along at low speed for scanning.

At the conclusion of the scanning operation, the carriage SK closes the switches 230 and 232. The previously released relays |12 and 200 are again energized, whereby the next sheet is moved quickly into scanning position and is then wrapped around the cylinder 30. The machine now goes through another scanning cycle, which is automatically repeated for each sheet.

If a particular message is short and is followed by the end-of-message stamp 240, the tuned relay |16 is operated to energize the fast relay |12 before the carriage SK has reachedrits nal position. The motor I8 is thus speeded up to drive the belt |1 fast until the next sheet is in scanning position. After the last message has ybeen scanned and is underV the guide cylinder 80,-v

with no message under cylinder 30, the 'contact |4| is grounded and the following operations take place:

1. Relay |12 is short-circuited when the switch |36 is closed by the clip that holds the last sheet.

2. Relay |55 is thereupon short-circuited by the grounded contact |4|.

3. Relay 220 is now energized for the rst time through the closing of relay contact |60.

4. Relays |55 and. |12 are now again energized through the closed contacts of relay 220,

Consequently, the motor |8 runsfast to` move the last scanned sheet into iinal position for stamping and stripping. The next clip closes theswitch |36, whereby the relays 12 and |55 are short-circuited in succession. All relays are now deenergized and the machine stops.

Since one of the main objects of our present invention was to produce an automatic facsimile transmitter with optical scanning, we have illustrated and described it as such, but it will be apparent that various features of our invention are applicable to facsimile and other types of recorders using optical scanning.

While we have shown and described certain specific constructions embodying the various features of our invention, it is to be understood that the drawings and description are merely illustrative of our invention and not a restriction or limitation thereof. Nor is it necessary that all the novel features of our invention shall be employed in the same machine or system, for it is evident that some features may be used without others. It is to be expected that in the commercial practice of our` invention changes and modications will be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a facsimile machine, acylinder for hold ing a unitary sheet to be scanned, a flexible band supported adjacent to said cylinder and spaced therefrom, said band being normally open, means for feeding a flat sheet between the open band and the cylinder, means for closing said band to wrap the sheet substantially all the way around the cylinder and hold it in true cylindrical forml for scanning, mechanism for scanning the sheet held on said lcylinder, means for producing a relative linear displacement between the supported sheet and said mechanism during a scanning operation, and means for operating said band to release the scanned sheet. 'Y

2.' In a facsimile machine, a stationary cylinder for holding a unitary sheet to be scanned, a ilexible band adapted to receive a flat sheet, means for flexing the sheet holding band around the cylinderto wrap the sheet thereon in substantially complete cylindrical form for scanning, means for scanning said sheet, means for sliding said band and sheet along the cylinder during the scanning operation, and means for automatically opening said band at the end of a scanning operation to release the scanned sheet.

' 3. In a facsimile machine, a stationary cylinder, means for wrapping and holding a sheet on said cylinder for scanning, said means including a fiexibleA band heldA under tension to slide said sheet axially along the cylinder during the scanning operation, means for scanning said sheet, a support for the scanned sheet as it slides off one end of the cylinder, and means for operating said band to release the scanned sheet from said support. f

4. In a facsimile transmitter, a stationary cylinder, a supportmovable parallel to the axis of said cylinder and having means. for holding a unitary message `sheet thereon, said holding means engaging the sheet at the center only, sothat the side portions of the sheet are free, means engaging the side portions of the sheet to Wrap the sheet substantially all the way around the cylinder for scanning while the sheet remains fastened to said support, and mechanism for scanning a sheet Wrapped around the cylinder.

5. In a facsimile machine, a cylinder for holding copy to be scanned, pivoted arms supporting a flexible band adapted to receive a sheet, means for closing said arms to ilex the band and thereby wrap the sheet around the cylinder, mechanism for scanning the sheet held on said cylinder, connections for producing a relative displacement of the supported sheet and said mechanism during a scanning operation, and means for opening said arms to release Ythe scanned sheet.

6. In a facsimile machine, a cylinder for holding ,copy to be scanned, a pair of pivoted arms carrying a flexible band which is flat when the arms are open to receive a sheet under the cylinder, means for closing the arms to flex the band around the cylinder whereby the sheet is Wrapped on the`cylinder and held in scanning position, mechanism for scanning said sheet, connections for producing a relative displacement of the supported sheet and said mechanism during a scanning operation, and means for opening said arms to release the scanned sheet.

'7. In a facsimile machine, a stationary cylinder for holding copy to be scanned, a carriage slidable adjacent to said cylinder, pivoted arms mounted on saidcarriage so as to open and close, a flexible band carried by said arms and adapted to receive a sheet When the arms are open, means for closing said arms to cause said band to wrap the sheet around said cylinder and hold it in position for scanning, mechanism for scanning said sheet during the sliding movement of said carriage, and means for opening said arms for removal of the scanned sheet.

8. In a facsimile transmitter, a stationary cylinder, a movable belt for carrying a series of message sheets in spaced alignment, means including a flexible element for wrapping said sheets one at a time substantially all the way around said cylinder while they remain on the belt, each wrapped sheet forming a true cylinder of paper for accurate scanning, and means for scanning each sheet on said cylinder. f

9. In a facsimile transmitter, a stationary cylinder, amovable belt for holding a plurality of spaced message sheets which are brought one at a time into alignment with said cylinder, a sliding carriage having means for holding a sheet on said cylinder for scanning while the sheet remains on the belt, means for scanning said sheet, and means for moving the belt and the carriage in unison during the scanning operation.

10. In a facsimile transmitter, a movable belt having means for holding a series of message sheets in spaced alignment, a stationary cylinder supported lengthwise over the belt which moves parallel to the cylinder and carries the sheets under the cylinder one at a time, means for wrapping an aligned sheet substantially all the way around said cylinder while the sheet remains on the belt, mechanism for scanning said sheet, and means for operating said wrapping means to release the scanned sheets for removal.

11. In a facsimile transmitter, Va movable belt for'holding a plurality of spaced message sheets, a motor for operating said belt, means for scanning the sheets one at a time While they remain on the belt, a device located at a definite point in relation to said scanning means for removing a scanned sheet from the belt, and means for automatically stopping the belt after the last sheet has been removed therefrom, said automatic belt stopping means including a circuit controlled by the absence of a message sheet on the belt to deenergize said motor.

12. A facsimile machine having a movable belt provided with metal clips for holding a plurality of Vspaced message sheets, a motor for operating said belt to feed said sheets into scanning position one at a time, mechanism for successively scanning said sheets as they are brought into scanning position by said belt, and means controlled by said metal clips for stopping the belt under predetermined conditions, said automatic belt stopping means including apparatus controlledrby the absence of a message sheet in a certain position on the belt to open the circuit of said motor.

13. In a facsimile machine, a movable belt having a plurality of spaced clips for holding each a message sheetat the center, said clips being so constructed that the sheets are slid under the clips by movement lengthwise of the belt so that the clips engage the forward edge of each sheet, means for operating the belt, means for scanning the sheets one at a time while they remain attached to the clips, and a device arranged adjacent to said belt for automatically sliding the scanned sheets from under the clips as each sheet passes a given point during movement of the belt.

14. In afacsimile machine, a pair of plates separated lengthwise to provide a channel, a belt movable in said channel and having means for holding a plurality of message sheets in spaced alignment, said sheets being considerably wider than said belt and said holding means engaging the sheets at the center only, so that the side portions of the sheets are free of the belt and extend laterally over said plates which guide the sheets during movement of the belt scanning mechanism operatively associated with said belt, and means for supporting the sheets one at a time in cylindrical form for scanning while they remain fastened to the belt.

15. In a facsimile machine, a stationary cylinder, a narrow conveyor belt having a plurality of spaced flexible pads secured thereto and extending on both sides beyond the belt, said pads being secured at the center only, so that the extending side portions thereof are free of the belt, means for holding a message sheet on each pad, the size ofthe pads being substantially the same as the size of the sheets, means for flexing said sheet holding pads around said cylinder one at a time, whereby the sheets are .held in scanning position, internal scanning means for the sheets on the cylinder, and connections for producing relative linear displacement of said scanning means and a sheet on said cylinder.

V16. In a facsimile machine, a pair of Vstationary' cylinders supported in axial alignment and slightly separated at their adjacent ends, means including a flexible member for holding a sheet Wrapped substantially all the way around one of said cylinders, connections for operating said sheet holdingmeans to slide the wrapped sheet over Yto the other cylinder, mechanism rfor .scan-- gee/,96e

ning the inside surface of said sheet as it sli-des.;

from one cylinder to the other, said mechanism having scanning means rotatable in 'the space between the two cylinders, and means for opening said flexible member to release the scanned sheet from said other cylinder.

17. In a facsimile transmitter, a pair of stationary cylinders supported in axial alignment and slightly spaced at their adjacent ends, means including a flexible member for wrapping a message sheet with a heading substantially all 'the Way around one of said cylinders, a sheet feeding device associated withl said flexible wrapping member for so positioning each sheet automatically with respect to said member that the heading portion overlaps one end of said cylinder, optical scanning mechanism adapted to throw a rotary spot of light on the inner surface of4 the sheet in the space separating the cylinders, and means for operating said sheet wrapping means to slide the wrapped sheet from one cylinder to the other during the scanning operation, said overlapping portion of the sheet when wrapped around the cylinder being clear of the scanning mechanism so that'only the message portion of the sheet is scanned.

18. A facsimile transmitter having a stationary cylinder, a movable belt for holding a plurality of spaced message sheets which are brought one at a time into alignment with said cylinder, a reciprocable carriage mounted for movement independently of said belt and'having 'means for holding a sheet wrapped around said cylinder for scanning While the sheet remains on the belt, means for moving the belt and the carriage in unison during the scanning operation at predetermined low speed, means for automatically increasing the speed of said lbelt and 'carriage at the end of a scanned message until the carriage reaches the limit of its forwardy travel,'and means for automatically returning the carriage to Ystarting position.

19. In a facsimile transmitter, a movable belt having means for holding a plurality of message sheets in spaced alignment, the messages on said sheets being of various lengths, a reciprocable carriage mounted for movement independently of said belt for supporting said sheets one at a time in scanning position while they remain attached to the belt, said carriage having a denite length of travel from initial to final position, means for scanning a sheet supported on said carriage, means for moving said belt and carriage in unison at low speed during the scanning operation, the final position of said carriage corresponding to the end of the long message carried by a sheet, means for automatically speeding up the `belt and carriage at the end of a short message until the carriage reaches its final position, and means for automatically returning the carriage from final to initial position.

20. In a facsimile machine, a cylinder forholding copy to be scanned, a slidable carriage having pivoted jaws adapted to close and open, mea'nsfor riage reaches final position to release the scanned sheet, means for returning the carriageto initial position, and meansoperable-wh'en the carriageV reaches initial position for energizing said jaw` ning a sheet held on said cylinder, a rotary screw' shaft, means for releasably connecting the carriage with said Shaft for sliding the carriage and sheet lengthwise of said cylinder during the scanning operation,`said carriage having a definite length of travel from initial to final position, an electromagnet adapted when energized to disconnect the carriage from the screw shaft, a second electromagnet adapted when energized to open said jaws and release the scanned sheet, means for energizing both of said magnets when the carriage reaches its final position, and means for returning the released carriage to initial position for the next scanning operation.

22. A facsimile machine comprising a cylinder for holding a unitary sheet of paper to be scanned, a flexible member normally held flat to receive a flat sheet, means for flexing said member to wrap the sheet substantially all the way around said cylinder and hold it in true cylindrical form for scanning, mechanism for scanning the cylindrical sheet, means for producing a relative linear displacement of the supported sheet and said mechanism during a scanning operation, and means for automatically unflexing said member at the end of a scanning operation to release the scanned sheet.

23. A facsimile machine having a stationary cylinder, a slidable carriage provided with means for holding a sheet wrapped around said cylinder, scanning mechanism arranged to operate on a sheet held on said cylinder, connections for sliding said carriage and sheet axially of the cylinder during a scanning operation, a device for operating said sheet holding means to release a scanned sheet from the cylinder, and means for automatically removing a released sheet from the carriage.

24. A facsimile machine having a stationary cylinder, a flexible band adapted to be closed for wrapping and holding a sheet around said cylinder, mechanism for scanning a sheet held on said cylinder, connections for sliding said band and the supported sheet axially of the cylinder during a scanning operation, means for automatically opening said flexible band at the close of a scanning operation while the scanned sheet remains on the open band, and means movable relatively to the open band for automatically removing the scanned sheet therefrom..

25. A facsimile machine having a stationary cylinder, a slidable support for holding a sheet wrapped around said cylinder, scanning mechanism arranged to operate on a sheet held on said cylinder, connections for sliding said support and sheet axially of the cylinder during afscanning operation, means for automatically releasing a scanned sheet from the cylinder while the sheet remains on said support, conveyor means for removing a released sheet from said support and retaining the removed sheet which is thereby carried to a point of discharge, and a device associated with said conveyor means for automatically removing a sheet therefrom at said discharge point.

26. A facsimile machine having a cylinder provided. with longitudinal grooves inH its outer periphery, a device for holding the sheet wrapped i around said`cylinder in a substantially perfect cylindrical form, said longitudinal grooves reducing the contact area between the sheet and the cylinder to a practical minimum without distortion of the true cylindrical form of the sheet, connections for effecting relative displacement of said device and cylinder to slide said sheet off the cylinder during a scanning operation, and mechanism for scanning the interior surface of said cylindrical sheet as it slides off the cylinder, the reduced contact area between the sheet and the cylinder correspondingly reducing the friction of the sliding sheet.

27. A facsimile machine having a pair of stationary cylinders arranged in axial alignment, a carriage mounted to slide parallel to said cylinders and having means for holdingr a unitary sheet wrapped around one of said cylinders for scanning, connections for operating said carriage to slide the wrapped sheet lengthwise of the first cylinder and carry it over to the second cylinder, mechanism for scanning said sheet internally during its sliding movement :fromY one cylinder to the other, automatic means for stopping the forward movement of the carriage when the scanned sheet has been transferred to the second cylinder, and a device for causing the stopped carriage to release the scanned sheet from the second cylinder.

28. A facsimile telegraph machine having a scanning mechanism, a device for feeding sheets to said mechanism for successive scanning, a stamp associated with said mechanism for impressing certain indicia on each sheet, and connections automatically controlled by said sheets for successively operating said stamp in timed relation to said scanning mechanism, said connections including a detecting element responsive to the presence of a sheet for causing the operation of said stamp.

29. A facsimile telegraph machine having a scanning mechanism, a support for holding a message sheet in scanning position, a device for feeding sheets to said support for successive scanning by said mechanism, a stamp associated with said scanning mechanism for impressing certain indicia on each sheet, and connections for automatically operating said stamp in timed relation to said scanning mechanism, said connections including a detecting element responsive to the presence of a sheet in a predetermined position relatively tok said support for causing the operation of said stamp.

30. A facsimile telegraph machine having a scanning mechanism, a movable belt for feeding message sheets successively to said mechanism for scanning, a stamp associated with said mechanisin for impressing certain indicia on each sheet, and connections for automatically operating said stamp in timed relation to said scanning mechanism, said connections including a detecting element responsive to the presence of a sheet in a predetermined position on said belt for causing the operation of said stamp.

31. A facsimile telegraph machine having a movable belt for holding a plurality of spaced message sheets, mechanism for scanning said sheets one at a time While they remain on the belt which carries the scanned sheets to a point of removal, an electric stamp associated with said belt for impressing certain indicia' on each sheet, and electrical connections automatically controlled by the movement of said belt for energizing said stamp to impress each sheet before 24 its removal from the belt, said connections including an'electric detecting element responsive tothe presence of a sheet in p-redetermined'po` sition on the belt for causing the operation of said stamp.

32. In a facsimile transmitter, the combination.

of a stationary cylinder supported at one end, a device for wrapping and holding a sheet substantially all the way around each cylinder for scanning. connections for operating said device to slidethe wrapped sheet off the other end of said cylinder duringl a scanning operation, a rotary hollowshaft extending'axially through said cylinder and having at least one open end, a lens mounted atan open endV of said shaft, a motor for operating said shaft, an exciter lamp ar-V 33. In a facsimile transmitter, a movable end-y less belt adapted to support a plurality of message sheets in iiat condition, said belt having clips arranged to engage the individual message sheets at their forward ends and hold them in uniformly spaced alignment, scanning apparatus having a stationary drum mounted above the horizontal run of said belt, means for wrapping said sheets in automatic sequence around said drum for scanning onel at a time while the sheets remain fastened to the belt by said clips, means for moving the belt forward during a scanning operation, means for automatically restoring each scanned sheet to its normal flat condition on the belt, and an automatic stripping device mounted in line with said belt at a definite point in relation to said stationary drum for stripping the scanned sheets from the clips during the movement of the belt.

34. A'facsimile machine provided with a stationary cylinder, means for holding a sheet on said cylinder so that the forward end of the sheet overlaps the adjacent end of the cylinder, mechanism for scanning said overlapping portion of the sheet, a device for sliding the sheet off the cylinder during the scanning operation, and means engaging the inner surface of the sheet for. holding its overlapping portion in cylindrical form as the sheet slides oii the stationary cylinderf 35. In a facsimile transmitter, a stationary cylinder, a movable narrow belt having fasteners to hold a series of message sheets thereon in spaced alignment, said sheets extending laterally beyond the belt and said fasteners being arranged to engage the sheets at the center only, whereby the side portions of the sheets remain free, means engaging the side portions of the sheets and bending them around said cylinder one at a time While the sheets are held on the belt, means for scanning the sheets on said cyl- A inder, means'for releasing the side portions 0f the scanned sheets while they are still held by said fasteners.

36. facsimile transmitter having a stationary hollow cylinder, a movable belt arranged lengthwise adjacent to said cylinder for conveying a ,Dlleelliy' Off message Sheets Sugssively into 25 alignment with the cylinder, a device having iiieans for wrapping a message sheet around said cylinder while the sheet remains on the belt, means for operating said device to slide the sheet off one end of the cylinder for internal scanning, a rotary hollow shaft extending through said cylinder, an electric motor for rotating said shaft at predetermined scanning speed, optical mechanism for projecting a beam of light 4axially through said hollow shaft, means carried by said shaft for directing the beam radially outward to form a scanning point on the inner surface of the supported sheet Where it overlaps the cylinder, and a photocell arranged to receive light from the scanned surface of the sheet.

RALEIGH J. WISE.

GARVICE H. RIDINGS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in'tl'ie iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 26 Name Date Cooley July 2, 1929 Alexanderson Feb. 10, 1931 Schroter Apr. 7, 1931 Heywoed et ai. sept. 13, 1932 Elsey et al.- Sept."13, 1932 Apr. 25, Hopkins June 6, 1933 Nicolson Sept. 5, 1933 Cooleyl Sept.` 11, 1934 23, Bennett Apr'. 16, 1937 Wise Apr. 11, 1939 Hooker Apr. 9, Rustad July 30, 1940 Blanton Apr. 14, 1941 Reeves Nov. 3, 1942 Chaxriberlin etal. Mar. 2, 1943 Carlson May 18, 1943 Hunting Aug. 15, 1944 Wise Dec. 26, 1944 Wise Feb. 12, 1946 Young Feb. 12, 1946 Light Apr. 2, 1946 Hornberger July 2, 1946 Wise Feb. 3, 1948 

